Hulu
- Hulu’s hit original TV series, "The Handmaid’s Tale," returns June 5 for its third season.
- But there are other Hulu originals viewers should have on their radar, too, if you ask critics.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Hulu’s hit original TV series, "The Handmaid’s Tale," returns June 5 for its anticipated third season. But while the show is an Emmy-winning sensation (it won the best drama series award for its first season), there are other Hulu originals that are even better if you ask critics.
We looked at review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to determine how Hulu’s original TV shows stack up against each other, and there are eight that fare better than "The Handmaid’s Tale" in critics’ eyes.
That’s not to say that "The Handmaid’s Tale" isn’t a critical darling. It has an average critic score of 91% for the show’s first two seasons and an 87% audience score. But it goes to show how much Hulu’s other quality shows go under the radar.
They include "Pen15" and "Shrill," which prove that Hulu is on a hot streak with female-driven comedies, as well as the new anthology thriller series, "The Act."
Below are eight Hulu original TV shows better than "The Handmaid’s Tale," according to critics:
8. "The Act"
Hulu
Critics score: 91%
Audience score: 91%
Hulu description: "The Act is a seasonal anthology series that tells startling, stranger-than-fiction true crime stories. Season One follows Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), a girl trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her overprotective mother, Dee Dee (Patricia Arquette). Her quest for independence opens a Pandora’s box of secrets, one that ultimately leads to murder."
What critics said: "A reminder that even when you think you know a great deal about true story, there can be value in retelling it." — RogerEbert.com
Status: Pending (1 season)
7. "Shrill"
Associated Press
Critics score: 92%
Audience score: 79%
Hulu description: "From Executive Producers Lorne Michaels and Elizabeth Banks comes Shrill, a comedy series starring Aidy Bryant (Saturday Night Live) as Annie, a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body. Annie is trying to start her career while juggling bad boyfriends, a sick parent, and a perfectionist boss."
What critics said: "Shrill is a marvelous piece of writing and acting, a meeting of Bryant’s vibe and West’s." — NPR
Status: Current (Season 2 coming)
6. "Casual"
Hulu
Critics score: 92%
Audience score: 87%
Hulu description: "From the Academy Award Nominated Director of ‘Up in the Air’ and ‘Juno’ comes Casual, a new comedy series about a bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter."
What critics said: "Casual never hesitated to dig into its uncomfortable interpersonal relationships, but it always managed to do so with humor. And it remained fully committed to having its characters grow and evolve realistically, right until the very end." — The Verge
Status: Ended (4 seasons)
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- The top 9 shows on Netflix and other streaming services this week
- Hulu’s 26 notable original TV shows, ranked from worst to best by critics
- Meet the power players at Netflix leading the streaming giant’s defense against Disney and other rivals
SEE ALSO: Hulu’s 26 notable original TV shows, ranked from worst to best by critics
Source: Business Insider – tclark@businessinsider.com (Travis Clark)